Calderdale Council has appointed Morris and Spottiswood to transform the Victoria Theatre in Halifax.

Plans include a new box office on Commercial Street with an amended layout to reflect current booking patterns. The current box office, along with part of the foyer area will become a new café/bar which will provide new food and drink opportunities and could hold small performances, events and meetings.

Access improvements are also included in the plans, with a new lift taking visitors to the theatre’s bars on the circle level for the first time in the venue's history, a platform lift for access from the theatre foyer to the auditorium, and two new accessible toilets being installed. These changes will vastly improve the visitor experience for those with access requirements.

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Initial works will be focused around the new box office, which will be in the former Ivor Burns shoe shop on Commercial Street and the former newsagents next to the theatre entrance, which will become part of the new café/bar.

Throughout the works, the theatre will be open as normal, with performances unaffected, though there will be protective hoardings and scaffolding in and around the building during the works.

Calderdale Council's Cabinet Member for Towns, Tourism and Voluntary Sector, Cllr Sarah Courtney, said: "The Grade II listed Victoria Theatre is a landmark in Halifax and a key part of our visitor economy. We’re passionate about the future of the venue and we’re excited for improvement works to begin.

"This is part of an £11.7million package of Future High Streets funding being used to deliver ambitious regeneration work in Halifax town centre. Supporting thriving towns and places is a priority for the Council, and this work will boost economic growth whilst also protecting our distinctive heritage."